Hello,
Me and my girlfriend are thinking of going to Costa Rica and we are not sure on an itinerary. We want 1 week beach holiday, 1 week jungle/animal and a few days in a city or something similar a bit different. We want to have different scenery but don't want to travel every other day, hence staying a week in a certain area at a time. If there are any trips you recomend, that will be great too.
Please let me know
With three weeks, you have a lot of options. Both coast are great beaches, though the caribe is a more rustic and low key compared to some areas on the Pacific, and its also cheaper for lodging/
The key parks in the country, are for nature/wildlife and Bio Diversity.
Corcovado is the best park, its also more remote, and you can access 3 different ways depending on what you want to make of it. The main draw for many is the 3 days hike in the jungle, and sleeping at ranger stations, this you need to base in Pt Jimenez, and have a permit/guide/reservations, be ready to hike 21KM on day one and 18KM on send stage.
The other popular way is to access the park via boats, from Drake Bay, and have lodges of everything for you, as a day trip or as a overnight at the ranger station. Best way to get to DB is via boat from Sierrpe, which is down the river and then down the coast...
Last option if to hike the park from the south entrance at La Leona, and base in Carata, 2 hours south of Pt Jimenez.
Allow 4-5 days in the region regardless of which option you choose, its the real deal, and jungle.
The other area that offers a lot of wildlife and nature is Tortuguero Canals and Rainforest, this is accessed via boat from La Pavona, on the caribe side with a 2 bus or shuttle trip from San Jose.
You then have Cahuita NP, a great place to hike and snorkel, and also a funky jive afro caribe town that is known for its spicy food and music scene.
South of there you have Pt Viejo, a more vibrant nightlife and great beaches all the way south to Manzanillo-Ganduca Marine Refuge. Rent bike on this coast and chill out.
Raft the Rio Pacuare between playa Cahuita or Pt Viejo, back to San Jose, and get dropped in SJ, or vice versa, this is one the best adventures in the country, and its a Top 10 River in the Americas to raft, and its also a gorgeous area through a valley with waterfalls, jungle and indigenous indians...
The other area most explore is the mountains in the central valley area, and this is best via a rental car, and would include Arenal NP, Tenerio NP, Cano Negro NP and Rincon NP, and the hard to reach a taro overrated and touristy Monteverde NP.
Pacific beach towns tend to share their existence with the fact they have a great surf. The top places that people prefer are Tamarindo, the surf mecca, and then Nosora/Samara area, and then the hard to reach Mal Pais/Santa Teresa area.
get the MOON guidebook for CR and read about what areas and adventure interest you most. Divide the country into 3 sections, and attack accordingly.
You can fly to Osa/Southern Zone Pt Jimenez or Drake Bay, as well as Tortuguero and Tamarindo. You can also use shuttles, public bus or rent a car.
Thanks lots of great suggestions, ill take time to digest them :-) A few people seem to be suggesting the moon books, are they the best these days?
Are you guys hikers?
Suggest 1 week in Corcovado NP, maybe Drake Bay in a nice lodge, enjoy the jungle and beach. Fly RT.
Then a few days in La Fortuna and the rest in Tortuguero, Cahuita and it's great NP, Puerto Viejo and south along the beach to Manzanillo. All very close to each other, killer jungles, canals, beaches, wildlife, small towns and a wide variety of lodging.
Yes, float the Pacuare River on your last full day in Costa Rica, they'll drop you off back in San Jose/Alajuela at the end of the day as part of the trip.
Alajuela is a nice little walking town by the airport, 5-10mins. if you need a night to stay. I'd avoid touring any large city, San Jose is OK but nothing to spend any time in.
@mrmoto quite a few people have said Corcovado is the best place to go. Have you got a guide on how much it will cost to go on the jungle trek, staying at ranges permit and guide ect... Did you do it independently or as a group? ill be intersted to know your experience?
Thanks
Figure $275 for guide and permits/reservation for 2 days w/guide and 1 night at Sirena.
Less from Drake Bay as a day trip.
Figure $60PP to visit the park with a guide from any direction.
We paid $500 for two people to hike from Carate to Sirena and back to Carate (February 2015). That was for 3 days with 2 nights at Sirena. Included was the guide, transport, permits and reservations at Sirena. The other option is Los Patos to Sirena to Carate (the loop) and that was a bit more expensive. Our hotel arranged it all but you can also contact a tour operator in Puerto Jimenez like Surcos Tours or Osa Wild. We like to hike and we loved it. The first day (Carate to Sirena) is 20 km (jungle trail and beach). Then you sleep at Sirena for 2 nights (I recommend two nights at Sirena because if you have only one night you have no time to explore the trails around Sirena... you would just hike there on day one and hike back out on day 2). The second day you hike on the trails around Sirena. The third day you hike back out. Beautiful wild natural beaches, amazing rainforest and lots of wildlife.
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